Apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case and upper case positions



May l0, 1966 A. Rlx ETAL 3,250,366

APPARATUS FOR EOUALIZING THE IMPAOTs OF TYPES 1N THE LOWER CASE AND UPPER CASE POSITIONS Filed Jul,r 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Shea?l l A. RIX ETAL May 10, 1966 APPARATus FOR EQUALIZING THE IMPAcTs oF TYPES 1N THE LOWER CASE AND UPPER CASE POSITIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1964 May 10, 1966 A. Rxx ETAL 3,250,366 APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE IMPACTS OF TYPES IN THE LOWER CASE AND UPPER CASE POSITIONS Filed July 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.4

ATTORNEY A. RlX ETAL May 10, 1966 APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE IMPACTS OF TYPES IN THE LOWER CASE AND UPPER CASE POSITIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 20, 1964 May 10, 1966 A. Rlx ETAL 3,250,366

APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZNG THE IMPACTS 0F TYPES IN THE LOWER CASE AND UPPER CASE POSITIONS Filed July 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY United States Patent() 9. claims. (b1. 19t- 17) The present invention relates to an apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types of a typewriter in the lower case position and in the upper case position, and more particularly to apparat-us permitting the adjustment of the impacts of the types of a power driven typewriter in such a manner that the impacts of the types .are proportionate to the area of the types, irrespective of whether the typewriter is shifted between lower case position and upper case position, or whether the typewriter is adjusted to produce only a single copy, or a .plurality of carbon copies. A

The types of a typewriter representing dierent characters have ditierent eective areas. For example, the character m has a greater area than the symbol and a smaller area than the character M. The characters having a greater area require a greater impact force than small symbols in order to produce an imprint of similar appearance as is required for producing a uniform appearance of a typewritten text, and for producing carbon copies having a uniform appearance. When the typewriter is shifted from the lower case position to the upper case position, a different impact force is required for the same type action, since the upper case letter M has a greater area than the lower case letter 171.

The type actions of electric typewriters are actuated by power rolls driving actuating means connected to the type actions. According tothe prior art, diterent impact forces are produced for upper case characters and lower case characters by permitting the actuating means of different type actions to travel a shorter or longer distance while engaging the power roll, and such distance is determined by stops causing separation of the stop actuating means from the power roll. It is known to provide independently adjustable stops for each actuating means so that the time of engagement with the power roll corresponding to a period of acceleration can be independently adjusted in accordance with the area of the respective character.

Apparatus according to the prior art has the disadvantage that the adjustment of the several type actions can only be made accurate for one position of the apparatus. For example, all type actions and actuating means can be adjusted to produce substantially uniform imprints for all types, irrespective of the area of the type face, but such adjustment is only correct when, for example, one original and one carbon copy is produced.

if several carbon copies are to be made, a greater impact force is required of all type actions and types. If in accordance with the prior art, the impact forces of all type actions are increased by the same amount, the impact force of a type having a small type face area is increased to the same extent as is the impact force of a type representing a character having a larger type face area.

For example, assuming that the type action with a type "m is adjusted to a desired impact force so that the respective actuating means is permitted to travel a distance x until stopped, and that another type action with the type is adjusted so that its actuating means travels a shorter distance y which is 'half the distance of the rst mentioned type action, an increase of both distances by ice Y the same additional distance, for example by the distance y, will increase the distance of travel of the actuating means of the rst type action by 50%, while the distance of travel of the actuating means of the second type action is increased by Consequently, when a machine, previously 4adjusted to a small number of carbon copies, is adjusted to produce a greater impact force in accordance with a greater number of carbon copies, the impact forces of the several type actions will not anymore be proportionate to the areas of the respective type faces since the impact of the several types are no longer balanced as in the individually adjusted condition for a smaller number of carbon copies.

In the copending application Klingner et al., Serial No. 364,846, apparatus is disclosed in which an individual adjustment is carried out for each type action when all type actions are simultaneously `adjusted to a greater or smaller impact force. The actuating means have stop portions with angularly staggered stop faces, and a stop means is engaged by the stop faces during turning movement of the actuating means to separate the same from the power roll. By turning of the stop means, the impact of all type actions are simultaneously adjusted, but since the stop faces are diiferently slanted, the increase or reduction of the impact force is diterent for diierent type actions so that the impacts of the types of the several type actions are proportionately adjusted. The stop means has first and second sets of individually adjustable stop i pins respectively associated with the lower case position `and with the upper case position. By rendering one or the other set of stop pins effective to cooperate with the slanted stop faces, the impacts of the types are adjusted to smaller or larger areas of the lower and upper case characters. However, when the slant of a stop face is designed to achieve a proportionate increase or reduction of a lower case character, such slant will not necessarily produce a proportionate increase or reduction of the impacts of the upper case character of the same type. For example, certain types have a digit in the lower case position, and a small symbol in the upper case position, and the slant of the stop face can be designed only for one or the other since a small symbol requires a lesser increase of the impact force than a standard character or digit if a greater number of carbon copies is to be printed, and the machine is correspondingly adjusted.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage, and to provide an apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the -lower case position and in the upper case position such a manner that the impact forces produced by all types will be proportionate to the areas of the type faces in lower case position as well as in upper case position when the machine is adjusted to `produce few copies as well as when the machine is adjusted to produce many copies.

Another object of the invention is to provide each actuating means with two stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and with the upper case position so that the respective stop portions can be positioned in accordance with the areas or" the lower case character and upper case character of the respective associated type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position of a typewriter which can be inexpensively manufactured and operate reliably for a long period of time.

. Another object o the invention is to provide an apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in which the impact forces of the type can be individually adjusted by adjusting means located so as to be easily accessible from the outside of the machine.

In known constructions for adjusting the impacts of types, the acceleration of the actuating means of the type actions by the power roll is interrupted after different periods of engagementfor the punpose of varying the impact force. The actuating member which is driven by the power r-oll engages a stop by which it is turned into a position separating from the power roll so that the actuatingY means is no longer driven and the type -bar moves further toward the platen by inertia. When the driving engagement between the power roll and the actuating member is short, the impact of the respective typeis not as strong as if the actuating member is permitted to remain in engagement with the power roll for a longer time. However, the stopping of the actuating member while in engagement with the power roll, produces undesired shocks on the type action.

' It is another object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage and to provide a typewriter in which the time for which the type action is driven by the power roll is not determined by stopping the actuating means to separate the same from the power roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating means including a turnable actuating lever which drives the type action, and a shiftable element movable along a straight path and cooperating with stop means without inliuencing the type action.

Another object of the invention is to provide actuating means which are first driven by the power roll to move a selected distance until stopped by an adjustable stop and only then permit the actuating means to drive the type action so that the impact force of the type acvtion depends on the distance of movement of the shiftable element, and not on the stopping of the turnable actuating means.

With these objects in View, the present invention provides an apparatus for equalizing the., impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position. One embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means having first and second stop portions, preferably provided with differently slanted stop faces, respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position; stop means including a plurality of first, preferably adjustalble, stops and a plurality of second, preferably adjustable, stops, and being movable between a lower case Iposition and an upper case position; means for shifting the stop means between the lower case position `and the upper case position; and adjusting means for moving the stop means relative to the first and second stop portions. l

In the lower case position of the stop means, the first stops cooperate with the first stop portions, and in the upper case position the second stops cooperate with the second stop portions. The first and second stops are respectively `spaced from the first and second stop portions distances selected in accordance with the required irnpacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types. When the adjusting means are operated, the distance between the first stops and first stop portions, or the distance between the second stops and the second stop portions is increased or reduced differently. In this manner, the impacts of the types are Iproportionally increased 4or reduced in the lower case position and in the upper case position, corresponding to the different areas of the lower case character and upper case character provided on the same type.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each actuating means, or a shiftable element thereof, has a pair of first and second stop faces respectively associated with the lower and upper case positions, and being slanted at different angles to the paths of movement of the first and second stops during adjustment of the stop means. The first stops move along the rst slanted stop rfaces in the lower case position of the stop means, or if 'the stop means is shifted to ,the upper case position, the

second stops move along the second stop faces of each of the actuating means. In this manner, the distance between the first stop faces and the first stops, or between the second stop faces and the second stops, respectively, is increased or reduced differently, depending on the different slants of the first and second stop faces. Consequentlly, when the impact of all types is adjusted for the purpose of typing a smaller or greater number of copies,.

the impacts of the lower case characters and of the upper case characters are adjusted differently as particularly yrequired when the same type has a lower case character of a greater area than the area of the upper case character of the same type.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjustable stopl arrangement by which the impacts of the types is determined, is not used for separating the actuating means from the power roll, as in prior art constructions. Each actuating means includes the usual coupling member which engages the power roll, an actuating lever carrying the coupling member, and a shiftable element mounted for translatory movement in one direction and supporting Ithe actuating lever for turning movement. The actuating lever is connected to the type action in such a manner that turning of the actuating lever can actuate the type to move toward vthe platen, while the translatory movement of the shiftable element has no influence on the type action. The shiftable element is provided with a pair of differently slanted stop faces cooperating with first and second adjustable stops, as explained above. When the coupling member is moved into engagement with the power roll by operation of a key, the shiftable element is first driven to move toward the respective stop without causing any movement of the type action, and when the shiftable element is stopped by the engagement of a stop of the stop means with the corresponding slanted stop face, further movement of the coupling member by the power roll causes turning movement of the actuating lever and corresponding actuation of the type action.

In contrast to the prior art where engagement of the coupling member of the actuating means causes immediate actuation of the type action, the type action is not moved in the present invention during the first moment of engagement between lthe coupling member and the power roll so that a particularly smooth operation is achieved.

The actuating lever is biased by a spring to abut the shiftable element so that the actuating lever is moved together'with the shiftable element in the translatory movement when the coupling member engages the power roll. When the shiftable element is stopped by a first stop in the lower case position, or by a second stop in the upper case position, and the coupling member continues its movement, the actuating lever is forced to turn about the journal provided by the shiftable element against the action of the spring, and such turning movement causes the actuation of the type action.

As explained above, the stop means is shiftable with the first and second stops between a lower case position in which the first stops are operative, and an -upper case position in which .the second stops are operative. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the first and second stops are mounted in two staggered rows on an elongated member which is shiftable in longitudinal direction between a lower case position in which the first stops are located opposite the shiftable elements, and an upper case position in which the second stops are located opposite the shiftable elements.

In another embodiment of the invention, pairs of aligned first and second stops are arranged in two rows on the elongated member, which can be turned between two positions in which either the first stops are located opposite the first stop portions of the shiftable elements, or the second stops are located opposite the second stop portions of the shiftable elements.

The rst and second stops are preferably adjustable screws, and the elongated member which supports them is arranged in such a position on the frame of the machine that the adjustable screws are accessible from the outside of the machine without requiring lifting or tilting of the machine out of its normal position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together` with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: p

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a part of a typewriter provided with the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrat- ,ing a portion of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, illustrating the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating parts of the apparatus also shown in FGS. 2 and 3;

PIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a detail of the modified construction of the invention; and

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary side views illustrating the positions of the stops and stop faces of the apparatus for different combinations of lower case characters and upper case characters.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. l, a set of type bars 42, of which only one is shown for the sake of simplicity, is mounted for turning movement about a curved shaft 42 in the carrier segment, not shown, of the typewriter. Each type bar 42 is part of the type action including the connecting wire link 41, a bell crank lever 39 and a wire link 40. All levers 39, of which only one is shown, are mounted for turning movement about a shaft 39 supported in the frame of the machine.

An actuating lever 1 is connected to link 40 and carries by means of a joint 1 the usual coupling member 2 which cooperates with the continuously rotating power roll 37. A spring 6 connects an arm 2 of coupling member 2 with an arm 1" of actuating lever 1 so that arm 2 normally abuts an elongated stop edge 3S of a frame member 35 which extends across all coupling members 2 and key levers 3. In the normal position of coupling member 2 and actuating lever 1, the coupling member is slightly spaced from power roll 37 and in a position of rest.

Actuating lever 1 has a lcircular bearing face 1"' turnr ably engaging a journal portion 5 on a shiftable element 5, and the adjacent pairs of bearing portions of all actuating levers 1 and shiftable elements 5, are mounted in slots 7 of a frame member 7, respectively. Each shiftable element 5 has a slot 5"', and a guide rod 8 on frame member 7 passes through all slots 5. A spring 11 connects a frame part 9 with an arm 5" of each shiftable element S, so-that each shiftable element normally assumes the position of rest shown in FIG. l in which the upper end of slot 5 abuts gui-de rod 8.

Frame part 9 has a guide edge 9 slidably engaging all shiftable elements S, and frame part 7 has a corresponding opposite guide edge so that all shiftable elements 5 are guided for individual translatory movement. A soft spring 38 connects a frame part 38' with actuating lever 1 and urges the same to abut an abutment face Sa on the respective shiftable element 5. Coupling member 2, actuating lever 1, and shiftable element S constitute an actuating means cooperating with power roll 37 and connected to the type actions 39 to 42.

Key lever 3 is mounted on the frame on a pair of parallel links 3 and is normally held by a spring 53 connected to frame part 35 in the illustrated position of rest abutting a resilient stop 3". Each key lever 3 carries a releasing member 36 for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 3"'. A spring 4 holds releasing member 36 in a normal position of rest in which an arm 36 slidalbly engages Ia guide opening in frame part 3S. When a key is depressed, releasing member 36 will move to a position engaging the projection 2"' of coupling member 2 and move the latter -to a position engaging the surface of power roll 37 which rotates in counterclockwise direction so that coupling member' 2 is turned in clockwise direction while being raised due to the cam shape of 4the friction face of coupling member 2 engaged by power roll 37.

Coupling member 2 exerts a force -against the pivot joint 1 yand thereby on actuating lever 1. The axis of joint 1 is spaced from the axis defined lby the joint 5', 1 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of coupling member 2 so that a certain turning moment is exerted on actuating lever 1, tending to turn the same in counterclockwise direction. However, spring 38 acts on the lever arm of actuating lever 1 which is longer than the lever yarm between'the joints 1 and S', `and spring 38 is selected .so that the force required for turning actuating lever 1 against the action of spring 38, is greater than the force required for displacing shifting elcment 5 against the action of spring 11. Consequently, during the first part of the movement of coupling lever 2 by power roll 37, shifting element 5 will -be shifted toget'ner with actuating lever 1 while the latter abuts abutment face 5a of shifting element S.

It will be seen that the guide means 7 9', 5, 8 are disposed substantially along a circle having its cen-ter in the pivot joint 39 of the type action. Consequently, during the above explained displacement of actuating lever 1 with shifting element 5, link 40 will turn about the axis provided by pivot joint 39 without iniluencing the position of the type action since no turning moment is exerted on lbell crank lever 39.

As a result, the type action is not subjected to a jerk which is unavoidable in prior art constructions in which the type lever action is immediately driven upon engagement of the coupling member by the power roll.

The translatory movement of shifting element 5 is stopped by Aadjustable stops 15 or 16, as will be explained hereinafter, but even without such stops, 'the translatory movement of shifting element 5 will be terminated when the lower edge of slot 5 engages rod 8. When this occurs, shifting element cannot move any further, and the force transmitted by the power roll to coupling member 2 is no longer used for tensioning spring 11, but acts over the short lever arm 1', 5 on actuating lever 1 to turn the same about joint 5', 1" in counterclockwise direction so that actuating lever 1 moves away from abutment face 5a and spring 38 is tensioned. Such turning movement of actuating lever 1 causes turning of belll crank lever 39 of the type action, and actuation of type bar 42 so that the type moves toward the platen, not shown to produce an impact on a paper sheet thereon.

Duev to the displacement of shiftable element 5, and the alignment of arm 1a with link 40 in a direction transverse to the corresponding arm of :bell crank lever 39, the motion of the type action is started without any jerk and the type action moves in a smooth continuously and gradually accelerated motion which is a particular advantage of the above explained construction of the actuating means according to the present invention.

The length of slot 5' determines the maximum displacement of shiftable element 5, and consequently the latest possible start of the turning movement of actuating lever 1 and the shortest possible time during which actuat- 'ing lever 1 is turned and the type action accelerated.

Consequently, if the end of slot 5' is used for stopping shiftable element 5, the least amount of energy is transmitted to the type action and to the type, as may be necessary for produicng the imprint of the symbol on thin airmail paper without perforation of the paper. Since a greater amount of energy must be transmitted to other type -faces having a greater area, it is necessary to stop shiftable element sooner, and after the same has been moved a .shorter distance, if a type action associated with a larger character is involved. The greatest possible amount of energy is transmitted to the type action and the type bar, if shiftable element 5 is stopped directly at the beginning of the movement of cupling member 2 under control of the power roll since in this event the actuating lever 1 is turned for almost the entire time period during which coupling member 2 is engaged by power roll 37. For example, the adjustable stop screw could be `adjusted to be closely spaced from the stop face 12 that the upper end of slot 5 is hardly lifted at all from .rod 8.

In order to transmit to different types different amounts of energy, the distance which each shifting element 5 moves can be adjusted. Each shifting element 5 has two stop portions with differently slanted stop faces 12 and 13 which respectively cooperate with rst stops 15 and second stops 16 shown to be adjustable threaded pins mounted on lan elongated member 14 which extends across a row of shifting elements corresponding to a row of type actions. The construction of this part of the apparatus will be best understood with reference to FIGS 2, 3 and 4 which illustrate one embodiment of the invention. .The elongated member 14 is located on the typewriter adjacent the types 42a completely accessible from the top of the machine. The threated pins 14 and 15 are disposed in longitudinally staggered rows, and member 14 can be shifted in longitudinal direction between a lower case position in which all stop pins 15 are located opposite stop faces 12, and an upper case position in which all stop pins 16 are located opposite stop faces 13, The reference characters L and U indicate in FIG. 2 the association of stop pins 15 with the lower case position and of stop pins 16 with the upper case position. Although in FIGS. 1 and 2 both stop pins 15 and 16 appear to be located opposite stop faces 12 and 13, only stop pin 15 is aligned with stop face 12 in the lower case position, while stop pin 16 is longitudinally staggered to stop face 13, and consequently ineffective until member 14 is longitudinally shifted to the upper case position in which stop pins 16 are located opposite stop faces 13, and stop pins 15 are staggered relative to stop faces 12.

It will be understood that each threaded st op pin can be adjusted until its free end is spaced .from the corresponding stop face a certain distance related to the desired impact force of the respective type action. The shiftable element 5 moves this distance before being stopped by a stop pin 15 in the lower case position, or 16 in the upper case position, and as explained above,

the impact force depends on the distance of travel of' shiftable element 5 since actuating lever 1 is later actuated to drive the type action when the distance of movement of shiftable element is longer, and is sooner actuated when the distance of movement of shiftable element 5 is shorter so that the respective type lever action is driven for a longer or shorter time, respectively by the turning actuating lever 1 after shiftable element 5 was stopped by a stop pin Due to the fact that the threaded stop pins 15, 16 are laccessible for adjustment in the normal operative position of the typewriter, the adjustment can be carried out while the respective key and type action are repeatedly actuated for example, by the standard repeat actuation mechanism of the typewriter The density and darkness of the produced imprints are continuously observed while the respective stop pin is adjusted to vary its distance from she shiftable element 5, In this manner, the impacts of the forty-six types of the typewriter can be adjusted in lower case position and in upper case position for a particlilar selected number of copies, and it will be understood that when the type carries a small symbol, shifting element 5 will be permitted to travel a greater distance, and

when the type carries a large character, shiftable element 5 will be permitted to travel a shorter distance Since separate stop faces 12 and 13 are provided for the lower case position and for the upper case position, stop pin 15 can be adjusted to produce a desired impact of the lower case character of a type, for example of a digit, while stop pin 16 can be differently adjusted to produce the necessary impact of the upper case character, for eX- ample a dash, In this manner, the basic individual adjustment of the impact forces produced by the lower case character and the upper case character of the same type can be achieved.

It is necessary to adjust all types simultaneously to different conditions, such as typing with one carbon copy or six carbon copies, and such a change requires, for eX- ample, an increase of the impact forces of all types. However, a small symbol will require a lesser increase than a large symbol, and consequently the stop faces of actuating means associated with small type faces have' a different slant than the stop faces of actuating means 14 of imember 14 has a slot 30, best seen in FIG. 4 whose lateral faces are engaged by a roll 29 mounted on a pin 28 secured to the arm 25 of a bell crank lever 25 whose arm 25" carries a guide pin 26. Pin 26 is located in a slot 24 of a shifting member 23 which is connected by a pivot 20 to a lever 20, shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Lever 20 is mounted for turning movement on the same frame portion which carries levers 39 of the type action, and has an arm connected to the shift key, not shown, of the typewriter by which the typewriter is shifted between lower case position and upper case position, for example by raising or lowering the segment carrying the type bars. Shifting means serving this purpose are well known, and therefore not illustrated in the drawing, and it will be understood that by operation of the shift key, lever 20 is shifted together with shifting member 23 in the directions of the arrow shown in FIG. 4, shifting member 23 being shifted in the direction of the arrow L when the stop means is to be set to the lower case position,

and in the direction of the arrow U when the stop means 14, 15, 16 is to be set to the upper case position.

The legs 32 and 34 of a spring 33 whose coiled center portion is mounted on pin 27 are located on opposite sides of pin 26. Legs 32 and 34 abut a neck portion 23 of shifting member 23, and are prevented from slipping olf by transverse projecting portions 23".

When shifting member 23 is operated by the shift key of the typewriter to move in the direction of the arrow U in FIG. 4, and to the left in FIG. 3 from the lower case position to the upper position, leg 32 of spring 33 engages pin 26 and starts to turn angular lever 25 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 so that arm 25 with roller 29 shifts stop means 14, 15, 16 in upword direction as viewed in FIG. 3 corresponding to a movement to the right in relation to the typewriter frame.

Such movement is limited by an adjustable stop 19 on frame wall 18, as shown in FIG. 3 so that stop pins 16 can be accurately placed opposite the corresponding shiftable elements 5. When shifting member 23 is farther moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, the neck portion 23 moves leg 34 of frame 33 away from pin 26, and member 14 is maintained in the shifted-position by the resilient force of leg 32. When the typewriter is shifted to lower case position, shifting member 23 moves in the opposite direction to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 so that leg 34 is resiliently tensioned by engagement with pin 26, after roller 29 of lever 25 has shifted stop means 14, 15 and 16 through a distance corresponding to the spacing between two adjacent pins 15 and 16 so that now stop pins 15 are located opposite their respective shiftable elements 5.

Consequently, in the lower case position, all stop pins 15 are located opposite stop faces 12, and in the upper case position all stop pins 16 are located opposite stop faces 13 of the respective corresponding shiftable elemeut 5.

In order to adjust the impact forces of all type actions simultaneously in accordance with the number of copies to be made, stop means 14, 15, 16 can also be turned about shaft 17, irrespective of whether stop means 14, 15, 16 is in the upper case position or in the lower case position.

An U-shaped bracket 43 is secured by screws to member 14 and has a projection 43 connected by spring 52 to a stationary frame part and biasing member 14 to turn in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. l and 2. Bracket 43 supports a journal. pin 44 on which a roller 45 is mounted for turning movement. Roller 45 has two end flanges 45 located on opposite sides of a cam 46, as best seen in FIG. 3. Cam 46 is secured to a sleeve 54 which also carries a manually operated wheel 49 projecting partly out of a slot in the wall 48 of the typewriter housing, so that the operator can turn wheel 49 with cam 46 whereby member 14 is turned against the action of spring 52 in clockwise direction when roller 45 engages a rising cam track portion, while spring 52 turns member 14 in counterclockwise direction when roller 45 moves inwardly on the cam track of cam 46 under the action of spring 52 when the cam is turned by the operator. An arresting wheel 50 is secured to sleeve 45 adjacent linger Wheel 49, and has recesses engaged by a catch spring 51, partly shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Indicia on'nger wheel 49 indicate by numbers the various adjusted position of the stop means 14, 15, 16. In the position illustrated in FIG. l, turning of cam 46 and linger wheel 49 in clockwise direction will cause turning of member 14 in counterclockwise direction, and

'displacement of stop pin 15 from an inner portion of stop face 12 toward the outer portion of stop face 12, assuming that the apparatus is in the lower case position. Stop pin 16 will also move along stop face 13 but laterally spaced from the same.

The effect of the adjustment achieved by finger wheel 49 will be best understood with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 which show stop means 14, 15, 16 and shiftable element with stop faces 12 and 13. The parts shown in FIG. 6 are associated with a type having a period as lower case character, and an exclamation point as upper ca'se character, as indicated by the respective symbols in FIG. A6 directly above stop pins and 16. The parts illustrated in FIG. 7 are associated with a type having the lower case character m and the upper case character M. Thel parts illustrated in FIG. 8 are associated with a type having the digit S as lower case character and a dash as upper case character, as indicated by the respective characters and symbols in the area of member 14.

Circles 8a, 8b, 15a, and 16a are shown concentric with the axis of shaft 17 in FIGS. 6 to S. Circle 8a passes through the lowest points of stop faces 12 and 13. Circle 8b will pass through the same lowest points of stop faces 12 and 13 if shiftable element 5 is shifted the greatest possible distance until guide rod 8 abuts the lower end of slot 5'. Circle 15a indicate the path of movement of the end face of stop 15, and circle 16a indicates the path of movement of the end face of stop 16.

Assuming that the apparatus is in the lower case position, and the irst stops 15 are located opposite the tirst stop faces 12 and effective, stop 15 is located opposite the inner end of the corresponding stop face 12, individually adjusted to a position in which its free end is spaced a certain distance from the corresponding opposite portion of stop face 12. This distance is selected to produce a certain impact force when the type face of the type engages thin airmail paper to make a single carbon copy, corresponding to the weakest possible impact.

The impact of all types is now to be adjusted to a thicker paper sheet and to a greater number of carbon copies. Finger wheel 49 is turned in clockwise direction so that stop means 14, 15, 16 is also turned in clockwise direction, and stop 15 moves from the inner portion of stop face 12 toward the outer portion of stop face 12. If stop face 12 in FIG. 6 would extend along the circle 8a, the impact force of the respective type would not be increased since the distance between stop 15 and stop face 12 would remain the same in all turned positions of the stop means. Due to the fact that a period type face has a very small area, only a small increase of its impact force is required, and consequently stop face 12 is shown in FIG. 6 to deviate only slightly from circle 8a so that the distance between stop 15 from the outer end of stop face 12 is only slightly smaller than the distance between stop pin 15 and the inner end of stop face 12.

The type face of the upper case character on the same type, namely the exclamation point, has a greater area than the and consequently a greater variation of the impact force is required. Therefore, stop face 13, which is associated with the upper case character, deviates to a greater extent from circle 8a than stop face 12. Consequently, when finger wheel 49 and cam 46 are operated so that the highest cam track portion engages roller and member 14 is displaced the greatest possible angle, the distance between stop pin 15 and stop face -12 in the lower case position of member 14 will be greater than the distance between stop pin 16 and stop face 13 in the upper case position so that the impact force of the exclamation point is more increased than the impact force of the period symbol on the same type. The impact forces of both characters are increased, however, but not to a great extent since the area of both symbols are comparatively small.

The areas of the characters m and M which are associated with the parts shown in FIG. 7 are much larger, and consequently the general adjustment of the machine to greater impact-forces requires a higher increase of the impact force for this pair of characters. Consequently, the left end of stop faces 12 and 13 deviate to a greater extent from the circle 8a than in the arrangement of FIG. 6, but the deviations are again different as required by the diierent areas of the lower case charm and the upper case character M. The higher end of stop face 13 almost reaches circle 16a along which the end of pin 16 moves so that when pin 16 is placed opposite such higher end by adjustment of linger wheel 49 to the greatest impact, shifting element 5 will be immediately stopped by stop pin 16', and actuating lever 1 will be turned during almost the entire engagement of coupling member 2 with power .roll 37, resulting in a corresponding longer actuation of the type action.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement for a type having the digit 8 as a lower case character, and a dash as an upper case character. In this combination, the areas of the upper case and lower case characters are substantially ditferent, and consequently the slant of the stop faces 12 and 13 also is considerably diiferent. .The upper case character, which has a small area, requires a lesser increase of the impact force than the larger digit 8. Therefore, the left end of the slanted stop face 13 deviates less from circle 8a than the left end of stop face 12, and the distance between the left end of stop face 13 from circle 16a is greater than the distance of the left end of stop face 12 from circle 15a. If the maximum displacement of the shiftable element 5 is to be used, the threaded stop pins 15 and 16 would have to be turned until the free ends thereof are located rearwardly of the circle 8b which indicates the position of the lowest portion of stop `faces 12 and 13 when the lower end of slot 5" engages the guide rod S. Such an adjustment would permit shiftable element to move a very great distance, resulting in a small impact force. Since the period symbol requires a small impact force, the end of stop 15 is shown in FIG. 6 to be closely adjacent circle 8b.

In the embodiment described particularly with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, stop means 14, 15 and 16 is shifted in longitudinal direction between the upper case position and the lower case position.

In the modifier embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, stop pins 15 and 16 are mounted on an elongated member 114 which is turnable about a shaft 17 as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. A cam follower member 143 has an arm carrying a roller 145 which cooperates with the cam 146 corresponding to cam 46 of the embodiment of FIGS. l to 4, and being operated in the same manner. A spring 133 urges member 114 to turn to the right to a first dead center position abutting the stop abutment 143" on member 143, but when shifting member 123 is shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, member 114 is moved to the left dead center position abutting stop abutment 143' of member 143. Member 143 is also turnable about shaft 17 and has an arm. connected by a pin 143 to a spring 152 which urges cam follower 143 toward cam 146.

Shifting member 123 is operated from the shifting keys of the typewriter as described with reference to shifting member 23 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. A slot 124 in shifting member 123 receives the pin 126 of member 114 in a lost-motion connection. The pairs of stop pins 15 and 16 are not longitudinally staggered as in the embodiment of FIGS. l to 4, but are aligned with each other in planes perpendicular to the axis of shaft 17 and passing through the stop faces 12 and 13 of shiftable elements 5, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows in solid lines stop pin 15 in a position for the minimum impact opposite the inner portion of stop face 12, and pin 16 inoperative since it is not located opposite stop face 13. In the illustrated position, roller 145 engages a low cam track portion of cam 146, and consequently cam follower 143 has moved so far to the right under the action of spring 152 that member 114 with stop pins 16, abutting abutment portion 143 of cam follower 143, is in a position in which stop pin 16 is located outside of stop face 13.

When cam 146 is turned to adjust the impact force of all type actions in the lower case position, stop pins 15 travel from the position shown in solid lines to the position 15 shown in thin lines, located opposite the outer ends of stop faces 12, and spaced from the same a smaller distance than in the initial position. Stop pins 16 move simultaneously to the position 16', but are still located outside of stop faces 13 in this position, and consequently inoperative.

When shifting member 123 is shifted to the left as -viewed in FIG. 5, while the machine is set to the upper case position, member 114,is shifted to the left until abutting abutment 143'", and during such movement, spring 133 is first tensioned, and then released so that spring 133 holds member 114 against abutment 143'". In this upper case position of the stop means 114, 115, 116, and assuming cam 146 to be in the same position as before, stop pins 16 will be in the position 16 located at the outer, lower ends of stop faces 13, while stop pins 15 will be in the position 15 located outside of stop faces 12 and consequently inoperative.

By operation of cam 146, members 143 and 114 are turned in clockwise direction, so that the operative stop pins 16 will travel from the position 16" to the adjusted position 16 in which they are located opposite the left ends of stop faces 113 from which they are spaced'a shorter distance than in the initial position 16". Stop pins 15 will move at the same time to the inoperative position 15".

The slanting stop faces 12 and 13 are designed for the various combinations of lower case characters and upper case characters on different types as described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and S.

The direction of the translatory movement of shiftable element 5 is determined by the guide means 7, 8, 9 to be substantially in radial direction with respect to the axis of shaft 17, and consequently stop faces 12 and 13 are `diffeerntly slanted to this direction, and also with respect to tangents on the circles 8a, 16a and 15a. Groups of type faces have substantially the same areas, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a different slant for each stop face 12 or 13. Certain slants can be used for a group of characters without any noticeable differences in the imprints made by all types in the uppercase position and in the lower case position. Comparatively few cornbina-tions of differently slanted stop faces 12 and 13 are required. For example, if three different slants are used for each stop face 12 and 13, nine different shiftable elements 5 have to be provided'for the typewriter and correspondingly assembled. Generally speaking, when n differently slanted stop faces are provided in accordance with characters of different area, n2 combinationswill result, since each selected slanted stop face 12 can be com- `bined with each of the differently slanted stop faces 13.

The machine is adjusted by first placing the apparatus in the lower case position and'turning cam 46 to a position in which stop pins 15 are located opposite the lower ends of stop faces 12. yEach type action is actuated while the respective threaded pin 15 is adjusted by turning the same until the imprint has the desired appearance. In this manner all stop pins 15 are individually adjusted.

The machine is shifted to the upper case position, with cam 46 remaining in the same position as before, and al1 stop pins 16 are individually adjusted while located opposite the lower end of the slanted stop face 13 so that all upper case characters produce imprints corresponding in appearance to the imprints of the lower case characters, and to each other. y I' The slant of stop faces 12 and 13 is different, as explained above, and selected so that adjustment of the impact forces of all type action, which is carried out by operation of Afinger wheel 49 and cam 46, or 146, will increase the impact forces of the several type actions by different amounts depending on the slant of stop faces 12 in the lower case position, and on the slant of stop faces 13 in the upper case position. Since separate slanted stop faces 12 and 13 are provided for the lower case position and for the upper case position, the relative values of the impact forces, and the corresponding appearance of the imprints, will not vary after adjustment of the machine to a greater impact force, as may be required by a great number of carbon copies. Due to the fact that the independent stop faces 12 and 13 are provided, the automatic increase of the impact force due to the slant of the stop faces can be made different for the lower case character and for the upper case character of the same type, which is of particular importance where the lower case character has an area substantially different from the area of the upper case character, as explained with reference to FIG. 8.

Aside from the fact that the impact forces for the lower case characters and upper case characters of the same type are automatically properly adjusted when the entire machine is adjusted to a greater impact force, the present invention provides a novel actuating means in which the driving engagement between the power roll and the actuating means is not terminated to determine the time during which the type action is actuated, but in which a shifable elemen 5 is moved different distances before the actuation of the type action takes place so that the beginning rather `than the end of the operation of the actuating means varies the time during which the type action is driven, and the corresponding impact force.

Since the heads of the threaded stop pins 15 and 16 are accessible from the open top of the machine, the effect i3 of the individual adjustment of each stop pin 1S or 16 can be observed during the adjusting operation, and it is v not required to lift the machine and to adjust the stop pins from the bottom of the machine, as in the prior art constructions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of apparatus for adjusting the impacts of the types of a typewriter differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for equalizing the impacts of the types of a typewriter in the lower case position and in the upper case position of the typewriter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modicaions and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully revealthe gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types carried by type actions, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means' including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement and connected with said type action for turning movement about a pivot point, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for translatory movement in one direction and turnably supporting said actuating lever, each shiftable element driven in said direction by said coupling member moving said actuating lever about said pivot point without influencing the type action, each shiftable element including a stop portion; stop means including a plurality of adjustable stops respectively cooperating with the stop portions of said-shiftable elements and being spaced from the same adjusted distances selected in accordance with the impact forces required for the respective types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when the respective stop portion thereof engages the respective stop so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever on said shiftable member for displacement of said pivot point and actuation of the respective type action; and adjusting means for moving said stop means along a path disposed relative to said stop portions so that the distance between said stops and said stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable element in said direction before the start of the turning movement of said actuating lever is varied in such a manner that the impact forces of the types of the type actions are proportionally A increased or reduced.

2. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member and adapted to operate a type action, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning movement for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position and slanted at different angles; stop means including a plurality of first adjustable stops and a plurality of second adjustable stops and being movable between a lower case position in which said first stops cooperate with said first stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops cooperate with said second stop portions, said first stops and said second stop being repectively paced from said -rst and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective rst stop in said lower case position, or when said second stop portion thereof engages` the respective second stop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said first and second stop portions so that the distance between said first stops and said first stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating levers are varied differently in accordance with the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

3. An apparatus for equalizing the 4impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement about a iirst axis and adapted to operatea type action, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating leverfor turning movement about a second axis, and a spring urging said actuating lever to abut said shiftable element during movement of the same in said direction for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction with said actuating lever abutting thereon when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position and slanted at different angles; stop means including a plurality of first adjustable stops and a plurality of second adjustable stops and being movable between a lower case position in which said first stops cooperate with said first stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops cooperate with said second stop portions, said iirst stops and said second stops being respectively spaced from said first and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective first stop in said lower case position, or when said second stop portion thereof engages the respective second stop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever against the action of said spring and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said first and second stop l portions so that the distance between saidfrst stops and said first stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable element before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating levers are varied differently in accordance with the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

4. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in `the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a -coupling member movable to and lfrom a position engaging said power roll and driven bythe same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement about a first axis and adapted to operate a type action, anda shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning movement about a second axis, and a spring urging said turnable actuating lever to abut said shiftable element during movement of the same in said direction for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction with said abutting actuating lever when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position and slanted at different angles; stop means including two parallel rows of staggered first and second adjustable stops, said stop means being shiftable in the direction of said rows of stops between a lower case position in which said first stops are located opposite of said first stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops are located opposite said second stop portions, said first stops and said second stops being respectively spaced from said first and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and uppercase types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective rst stop in said lower case portion, or when said second stop portion thereof engages the respective second stop in said upper case position, respective-1y, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever against the action of said spring and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means be- `tween said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said first and second stop portions so that the distance between said Vfirst stops and said first stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start o-f the turning lmovement of said actuating levers are varied differently in accordance wit-h the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally 'increased or reduced.

5. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement about a rst axis and adapted to operate a type action, and a shiftable element mounted o-n said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning mpvement about a second axis, and

a spring urging said turnable actuable lever -to abut said shiftable element during movement of the same in said direction for .actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction with said abutting actuating lever When said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position and slanted at different angles; stop means including two parallel rows of pairs of aligned first and second adjustable stops, said stop means being turnable between a lower case position in which said first stops are located opposite said first stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops are located opposite said second stop portions, said first stops and said second stops being respectively spaced from said first and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective first stop in said `lower case position,V or when said second stop portion thereof engages the `respective second lstop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever against the action of said spring and actuation of the lrespective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said rst and second stop portions so that the distance between said vfirst stops and said first stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating leve-rs are varied differently in accordance with the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second stops is a threaded element individually adjustable toward and away from said stop portions.

.7. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement about a first axis and adapted to operate a type action, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning movement about a second axis, and a spring urging said turnable actuating lever to abut said shiftable element during movement of the same in said direction for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction with said abutting actuating lever when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position, said first and second stop portions having first and second angularly staggered stop faces slanted at different angles to said direction; stop means including a plurality of rst adjustable stops and a plurality of second adjustable stops and being movable between a lower case position in which said first stops cooperate with said first stop faces and an upper case position in which said second stops cooperate with said second stop faces, said first stopsk and said second stops being respectively spaced from said first and second stop faces adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said rst stop face thereof engages the respective first st op in said lower case position, or when said second stop face thereof engages the respective second stop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever against the action of said spring and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for moving said stop means relative to said first and second stop faces so that said first stops move along said iirst stop faces in the lower case positions, and said second stops move along said second stop faces in said upper case position of said stop means whereby the distance between said first stops and said first stop faces or between said second stops and said second stop faces, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating levers are varied differently in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

8. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of the types of a typewriter in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member and adapted to operate a type action, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning movement for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position; stop means including an elongated support mounted on top of said frame extending across said actuating means and being located above said shiftable elements and having a wall disposed so that the top face thereof is accessible in the operative position of the typewriter, and two sets of iirst and second individually adjustable threaded stops passing through said wall and having head portions adapted to be engaged for adjustment and located above said top face, said stop means being movable between a lower case position in which said rst stops cooperate with said iirst stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops cooperate with said second stop portions, said first stops and said second stops being respectively spaced from said first and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective rst stop in said lower case position, or when said second stop portion thereof engages the respective second stop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position and adjusting means for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said rst and second stop portions so that the distance between said iirst stops and said first stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating levers are varied differently in accordance with the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

9. An apparatus for equalizing the impacts of types in the lower case position and in the upper case position, comprising, in combination, a frame; a power roll mounted on said frame; a plurality of actuating means for type actions, each actuating means including a coupling member movable to and from a position-engaging said power roll and driven by the same in one direction, an actuating lever carrying said coupling member for turning movement about a iirst axis and adapted to operate a type action, and a shiftable element mounted on said frame for movement in said direction and supporting said actuating lever for turning movement about a second axis, and a spring urging said turnable actuating lever to abut said shiftable element during movement of the same in said direction for actuation of a type action, each shiftable element being driven in said direction with said abutting actuating lever when said coupling member engages said power roll, each shiftable element including first and second stop portions respectively associated with the lower case position and the upper case position and slanted at different angles; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position, said stop means including a plurality of first adjustable stops and a plurality of second adjustable stops and being movable between a lower case position in which said iirst stops cooperate with said rst stop portions and an upper case position in which said second stops cooperate with said second stop portions, said first stops and said second stops being respestively spaced from said rst and second stop portions adjusted distances selected in accordance with the required impacts of the respective lower case types and upper case types, said driven shiftable element being stopped when said first stop portion thereof engages the respective first stop in said lower case position, or when said second stop portion thereof engages the respective second stop in said upper case position, respectively, so that further movement of said coupling member causes turning of said actuating lever against the action of said spring and actuation of the respective type action; shifting means for shifting said stop means between said lower case position and said upper case position, said shifting means including resilient means for holding said stop means in said lower and upper case positions and adjusting means including a manually operated turnable cam, aud cam follower means operable by said cam for turning said stop means along a path disposed relative to said first and second stop portions so that the distance between said iirst stops and said rst stop portions or between said second stops and said second stop portions, respectively, and thereby the distances of movement of said shiftable elements before the stopping of the same and the start of the turning movement of said actuating levers are varied differently in accordance with the different slants of said stop portions in such a manner that the impacts of the lower case and upper case characters of the types of the type actions are proportionally increased or reduced.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,661 l/ 1931 Schulze 197-17 1,818,200 8/ 1931 Dorsey 197-17 2,750,022 6./ 1956 Long 197-17 2,796,966 6/ 1957 Toeppen 197-17' 2,891,650 6/ 1959 Ascoli 197-17 2,907,436 10/ 1959 Frechett 197-17 DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner.

EDGAR S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR EQUALIZING THE IMPACTS OF TYPES CARRIED BY TYPE ACTIONS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME; A POWER ROLL MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING MEANS FOR TYPE ACTIONS, EACH ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING A COUPLING MEMBER MOVABLE TO AND FROM A POSITION ENGAGING SAID POWER ROLL AND DRIVEN BY THE SAME, AN ACTUATING LEVER CARRYING SAID COUPLING MEMBER FOR TURNING MOVEMENT AND CONNECTED WITH SAID TYPE ACTION FOR TURN ING MOVEMENT ABOUT A PIVOT POINT, AND A SHIFTABLE ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION AND TURNABLY SUPPORTING SAID ACTUATING LEVER, EACH SHIFTABLE ELEMENT DRIVEN IN SAID DIRECTION BY SAID COUPLING MEMBER MOVING SAID ACTUATING LEVER ABOUT SAID PIVOT POINT WITHOUT INFLUENCING THE TYPE ACTION, EACH SHIFTABLE ELEMENT INCLUDING A STOP PORTION; STOP MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ADJUSTABLE STOPS RESPECTIVELY COOPERATING WITH THE STOP PORTIONS OF SAID SHIFTABLE ELEMENTS AND BEING SPACED FROM THE SAME ADJUSTED DISTANCES SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IMPACT FORCES REQUIRED FOR 